ASk Basia Video Podcast Episode 2

IS THE BACHELOR FRANCHISE DEMEANING TO WOMEN?

I have followed the Bachelor franchise over the years. I have been watching since season 1. However, it became clear to many of “us” by season 7, that the franchise did not care much for men and women of color. This is not my presumption, as the franchise owners have made it clear that their show is not for brown and black people. It took them 25 seasons (after the backlash of the Black Lives Matter movement to select a black man or a man of color for the lead, and 13 seasons to select Rachel Lindsey, as the first black Bachelorette. I am not making up the statistics.

In addition to their obvious bias against people of color, I am not happy about the manner in which the producers portray women on a whole. The idea that women have to audition and engage in cat fights for a date and potentially a ring, is appalling to me. This season in particular, has been very painful to watch. However, after watching the latest season with Bachelor, Matt James, it opened up a whole new discussion about race and gender inequality. Fortunately or unfortunately Matt chose the “wrong girl”, aka “Racist Rachel”, and that choice opened up a whole can of “racists” disguised as worms. After Rachels’s past came out to haunt her and Matt, this resulted in them breaking up, as it caused Matt to think about the BLM movement’s impact on him being selected, and he decided to continue standing with Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others, whose lives were cut short as a result of police brutality and racially motivated crimes.

The scandal also caused Chris Harrison to go on “pause”, while his stand in, Emmanuel Acho, an expert at explaining blackness to white people, finished off the season on Monday night. Emmanuel did a great job and also proved the point that several people can qualify for the job. In addition, the franchise went into full damage control by selecting both a black woman, Michelle Young, (whose heart was broken by Matt James), and another white woman, Katie Thurston, as leads for the upcoming seasons of “The Bachelorette”. In addition, they also announced former Bachelorette, Tayshia Adams (who was also selected during the events surrounding the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement) and another previous Bachelorette, Kaitlyn Bristowe, as the up coming host of the Bachelor franchise.

It is very sad that the franchise only saw it fit to address their obvious inequalities, as it relates to gender and race, after a scandal and a global “black out ” and insurrection, that was led by the BLM movement. Another issue for me is the manner in which women are portrayed. they are housed under the same roof while they cat fight and compete for a man’s attention and affection. It does not send the right message to our young women. Women should be taught self validation and that a man should pursue a woman’s affection. Women are portrayed in a poor light on this show, particularly women of color. I sat with some amazing women to discuss their opinions of the Bachelor franchise’s treatment of women.

Commentators’ Bio

Dr Sydelle Ross

Dr. Sydelle Ross, is a Caribbean American and an Anesthesiologist Pain Specialist, who currently practices palliative medicine. She is also a classically trained vocalist, who uses music to care for patients living with life threatening illness. Dr Ross’s podcast, “Prescription in Song” is dedicated to promoting awareness of healing potential of music and is available on Apple Podcast and Spotify. Her website is http://www.sydellerossmd.com and you can follow her onhttp://www. Instgram.com/sydellerossmd

Mrs. Alicia Bazen

Mrs. Alicia Bazen, is a Caribbean American woman and a graduate of the Boyd Law School at University of Las Vegas. Currently she works as a legal professional in the insurance industry. Mrs. Bazen is an advisory member for caregivers with NCAN, a neuroendocrine cancer support group, as well as the creator of the “Abbiness Handmade Jewelry” line. Her jewelry is available for sale via her instagram http://www.instagram.com/abbiness_designs

Mrs. Lisa Wu Fate

Mrs. Lisa Wu Fate, is an Asian American. Currently she is the Deputy General Counsel for Bold Penguin, an insurtech start up. She is the mom of two young adults: a daughter with special needs, who graduated from Ohio State University’s special needs program and a son who is an organic chemistry major at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Take a look at what they have to say about the Bachelor Franchise’s treatment of women: